Ever since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conducted the review meeting of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), all kinds of reports have been coming left, right, and center. The day started with BCCI cracking a whip, not allowing players’ wives to remain for an entire tour. The plan to see all players in domestic cricket look like working as well, with Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant all being available for selection for their respective states. Meanwhile, is Gautam Gambhir’s time over as Team India head coach? On that note, let us look at six of the eye-catching stories from January 14 (Tuesday).
Shubman Gill & Yashasvi Jaiswal to play Ranji?
Youngsters who are currently part of the Indian Test team are showing superb signs of commitment. Both Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have confirmed their availability to play Ranji Trophy for Punjab and Mumbai, respectively. The emphasis on domestic cricket has been making the headlines off late and fans will see a shift in the matter now. Mumbai is slated to play their next match vs J&K in Mumbai from Jan 23, while Punjab will play against a strong Karnataka side. Gill’s availability was confirmed by PCA.
Rishabh Pant to play for Delhi in Ranji Trophy!
Big news for cricket fans! Rishabh Pant is all set to make his comeback to the Ranji Trophy after a whopping seven years! He’ll be turning out for Delhi against Saurashtra on January 23. This is a huge boost for Delhi, who’ve had a pretty lacklustre season so far. Pant’s last Ranji Trophy outing was way back in the 2017/18 final against Vidarbha. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has not decided anything on his participation.
Rohit Sharma selfish?
There were previous reports that Rohit Sharma wants to continue as Test captain despite his poor form and calls for his retirement. Rohit’s form in the BGT was so bad that he had to drop himself for the fifth Sydney Test. However, BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla has rebuffed any rumours, saying that he is the captain and a selfless one. “This is also wrong that Rohit has insisted on captaincy. He is the captain. Form or lack of form is part and parcel of the game. These are phases, nothing new. When he saw he was out of form, he dropped himself from the fifth Test,” Shukla told.
Gautam Gambhir era soon to be over?
Gautam Gambhir’s time as India’s head coach is hanging by a thread, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is basically his last chance to turn things around. Since he took the reins, India’s been on a pretty dismal run, with some historic losses, including a shocking ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka and a Test series whitewash against New Zealand. And let’s not forget the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy loss. If India bombs out in the Champions Trophy, Gambhir’s likely toast, contract or not. Read more here: ICC Champions Trophy could decide Gautam Gambhir’s fate as India coach
Pay cut soon for IND players?
The BCCI is considering a performance-based variable pay system for Indian cricketers after their disappointing 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This move aims to make players more accountable for their performances, with potential pay cuts for those who underperform. The system is inspired by corporate appraisal methods, where employees are evaluated annually. A source revealed that players would face “variable pay-cuts” if their performance doesn’t meet expectations.
Sarfaraz Khan injured?
While Yashasvi Jaiswal is likely to play for Mumbai, one of the key players is almost certain to miss out. Sarfaraz Khan, who has scored bucketloads of runs for Mumbai, sustained an injury during the Australia vs India Tests. As per reports, Khan is likely to miss all the group stages of the domestic red-ball tournament and is most likely to be fit only for the knockout stages.
